THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  ILLINOIS 

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370 
I£6e 

v.12-84 


Q.2.1 


UNIVERSITY    OF    ILLINOIS    BULLETIN 

Issued  Weekly 
Vol.  XXI  September  17,  1923  No.  3 

[Entered  as  second-class  matter  December  1 1,  1012,  at  the  post  office  at  Urbana,  Illinois,  under  the 
Act  of  August  24,  1912.  Acceptance  for  mailing  at  the  special  rate  of  postage  provided  for  in 
section   1 103,  Act  of  October  3,    1917,   authorized  July  31,    1918.] 


EDUCATIONAL  RESEARCH  CIRCULAR  NO.  21 


BUREAU  OF  EDUCATIONAL  RESEARCH 
COLLEGE  OF  EDUCATION 

ANNOUNCEMENT  OF  THE  BUREAU 

OF  EDUCATIONAL  RESEARCH 

FOR   1923-24 

By 
Walter  S.  Monroe 

Director,  Bureau  of  Educational  Research 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


370 
U6e 


Announcement  of  the  Bureau  of  Educational  Research 

for  1923-24 

Resume  of  activities  during  the  school  year  1922-23.    In 

September,  1922,  the  Bureau  of  Educational  Research  inaugurated 
the  publication  of  a  series  of  educational  research  circulars.  A  begin- 
ning had  been  made  during  the  previous  year  by  issuing  eleven  mimeo- 
graphed statements  relating  to  educational  topics.  The  circulars  for 
the  past  school  year  have  been  more  pretentious  than  these  earlier 
statements,  have  been  issued  in  printed  form,  and  as  the  titles  listed 
below  indicate,  have  treated  various  subjects.  It  is  our  intention  to 
use  them  for  non-technical  discussions  of  topics  of  current  interest. 
Some  issues  will  be  devoted  to  summarizing  and  interpreting  re- 
search. Others  will  merely  make  available  in  a  convenient  form 
information  for  which  there  appears  to  be  a  need. 

In  addition  to  the  educational  research  circulars  the  Bureau  has 
published  a  number  of  bulletins  giving  an  account  of  the  research 
work  which  has  been  carried  on  by  members  of  its  staff.  Altho  some 
of  these  bulletins  may  appear  to  have  less  immediate  practical  value 
than  certain  of  the  circulars,  they  represent  fundamental  research. 
Such  work  is  necessary  in  the  development  of  the  science  of  educa- 
tion. 

The  list  of  publications  issued  during  the  school  year  of  1922- 
23  follows: 

Educational  Research  Circulars 

No.  12.  Monroe,  Walter  S.  Announcements  of  the  Bureau  of  Educa- 
tional Research  for  1922-23. 

No.  13.  Monroe,  Walter  S.  Definitions  of  the  Terminology  of  Ed- 
ucational Measurements. 

No.  14.  Streitz,  Ruth.  Gifted  Children  and  Provisions  for  Them  in 
Our  Schools. 

No.  15.  Monroe,  Walter  S.   Educational  Tests  for  Use  in  Elementary 

Schools. 
No.  16.  Odell,  Charles  W.    The  Effect  of  Attendance  Upon  School 

Achievement. 


No.  17.  Mohlman,  Dora  Keen.  The  Elementary  School  Principal- 
ship. 

No.  18.  Monroe,   Walter    S.     Educational   Tests    for   Use   in   High 

Schools. 
No.  19.  Streitz,  Ruth.    Provisions  for  Exceptional  Children  in   191 

Illinois  Cities. 
No.  20.  McClusky,  Frederick  Dean.    Place  of  Moving  Pictures  in 

Visual  Education. 

Educational  Research  Bulletins 

No.  9.  Monroe,  Walter  S.  Written  Examinations  and  Their  Im- 
provement. 

No.  10.  Bureau  of  Educational  Research.  Relation  of  Size  of  Class 
to  School  Efficiency. 

No.  11.  Monroe,  Walter  S.  Relation  of  Sectioning  a  Class  to  the 
Effectiveness  of  Instruction. 

No.  12.  Odell,  Charles  W.  The  Use  of  Intelligence  Tests  as  a  Basis 
of  School  Organization  and  Instruction. 

No.  13.  Monroe,  Walter  S.,  and  Foster,  I.  0.  The  Status  of  the  So- 
cial Sciences  in  the  High  Schools  of  the  North  Central 
Association. 

No.  14.  Monroe,  Walter  S.,  and  Carter,  Ralph  E.  The  Use  of  Dif- 
ferent Types  of  Thought  Questions  in  Secondary  Schools 
and  Their  Relative  Difficulty  for  Students. 

During  the  past  two  years  an  effort  has  been  made  to  bring 
members  of  the  staff  of  the  Bureau  of  Educational  Research  into 
more  intimate  contact  with  the  public  schools  of  the  state.  This  phase 
of  our  activities  is  materially  increasing.  Miss  Ruth  Streitz  has  vis- 
ited a  total  of  twenty-two  school  systems  during  the  past  year  in 
connection  with  our  study  of  the  "teachers'  difficulties  and  their 
remedies."  In  most  cases  she  has  spent  an  entire  day  observing  the 
work  of  the  teachers  and  conferring  with  them  in  regard  to  the  diffi- 
culties which  they  were  encountering  and  the  teaching  devices  which 
they  were  finding  successful.  Frequently  Miss  Streitz  has  been  in- 
vited to  address  groups  of  teachers. 

Forthcoming  bulletins.  The  research  work  of  one  year  natur- 
ally provides  the  bulletins  published  during  the  next.   The  following 


bulletins  are  nearing  completion  and  will  be  published  early  in  the 

present  school  year. 

Odell,  C.  W.    The  Progress  and  Elimination  of  School  Children  in 

Illinois. 

(This  investigation  is  the  result  of  a  study  of  the  individual  records  of  ap- 
proximately 70,000  Illinois  school  children.) 

Monroe,  Walter  S.,  and  Souders,  L.  B.  The  Present  Status  of  Writ- 
ten Examinations. 

Mohlman,  Dora  Keen.  An  Investigation  of  the  Study  Habits  of  High 
School  Children. 

Streitz,  Ruth.   Teachers'  Difficulties  and  Their  Remedies. 

(This  bulletin  will  be  confined  to  arithmetic  and  reading.) 
Monroe,  Walter  S.  The  Constant  and  Variable  Errors  in  Educational 

Measurements. 
Monroe,  Walter  S.    Experimentation  as  a  Method  of  Educational 

Research. 

Forthcoming  educational  research  circulars.  It  is  not  possi- 
ble at  this  time  to  make  a  definite  announcement  concerning  very 
many  of  the  educational  research  circulars  which  will  be  issued.  In 
the  past  the  topics  frequently  have  been  suggested  by  communica- 
tions received  during  the  year.  The  preparation  of  the  following  cir- 
culars has,  however,  progressed  to  the  point  where  their  publication 
may  be  announced. 
Odell,  Charles  W.   Provisions  for  the  Individual  Differences  of  High 

School  Pupils. 
Monroe,  Walter  S.   Educational  Guidance. 
Streitz,  Ruth.  Educational  Diagnosis. 

Projects  proposed  for  1923-24.  Our  plans  for  the  coming 
school  year  are  included  in  the  following  projects.  As  the  work  de- 
velops, these  projects  may  be  modified  in  any  way  that  seems  wise 
or  additional  projects  undertaken.  However,  this  announcement  will 
serve  to  acquaint  the  people  of  the  state  with  our  proposed  activities. 

Project  1.  Collection  of  difficulties  encountered  in  teaching 
and  methods  of  overcoming  these  difficulties.  This  is  a  continu- 
ation of  a  project  of  last  year.  So  far  our  attention  has  been  confined 
mostly  to  reading  and  arithmetic.  We  hope  to  extend  it  to  other 
subjects.    In  connection  with  this  study  a  number  of  school  systems 


will  be  visited  by  Miss  Streitz  and  probably  by  other  members  of  the 
Bureau  staff.  The  director  of  the  Bureau  will  welcome  communica- 
tions from  those  who  encounter  difficulties  in  teaching  any  elementary 
school  subject  or  who  are  using  devices  which  seem  to  be  effective 
in  overcoming  difficulties. 

Project  2.  Investigation  of  the  study  habits  of  high  school 
pupils.  This  investigation  was  initiated  two  years  ago  but  it  seems 
wise  to  continue  it  for  another  year.  The  precise  problem  which  will 
be  undertaken  has  not  been  determined.  The  Director  of  the  Bureau 
of  Educational  Research  will  be  glad  to  hear  from  any  superintendent 
or  principal  who  is  interested  in  cooperating  with  him  in  continuing 
this  investigation. 

Project  3.  School  surveys.  A  year  ago  we  announced  as  one 
of  our  projects  the  preparation  of  specifications  for  self  surveys.  As 
this  work  developed  it  seems  wise  to  concentrate  our  attention  on 
one  particular  phase  of  a  survey,  namely,  the  progress  and  elimina- 
tion of  pupils.  Therefore,  an  investigation  was  conducted  in  which  a 
considerable  number  of  school  systems  cooperated.  The  results  of 
this  investigation  will  be  published  shortly  in  bulletin  form.  Specifi- 
cations for  self  surveys  will  be  continued. 

A  few  superintendents  have  indicated  a  desire  to  have  the 
Bureau  of  Educational  Research  direct  a  survey  of  their  school  sys- 
tem. If  plans  can  be  formulated  which  are  mutually  satisfactory  the 
Bureau  hopes  to  undertake  the  direction  of  a  limited  number  of  sur- 
veys during  the  coming  year.  The  Director  of  the  Bureau  will  be 
glad  to  hear  from  any  superintendents  who  are  interested  in  this 
type  of  service. 

Project  4.  Educational  and  vocational  guidance  of  high 
school  students.  During  the  coming  year  we  shall  initiate  an  inves- 
tigation relating  to  the  educational  and  vocational  guidance  of  high 
school  students,  and  shall  wish  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  as  many 
high  schools  in  the  state  as  possible.  A  detailed  announcement  of 
our  plans  will  be  sent  out  at  an  early  date. 

Services  to  school  systems  of  the  state.  Altho  the  primary 
function  of  the  Bureau  of  Educational  Research  is  to  conduct  inves- 
tigations and  bring  them  to  the  attention  of  the  school  people  of  the 


state,  we  hope  also  to  render  more  immediate  and  direct  services. 
Attention  has  already  been  called  to  the  visits  to  schools.  The  Direc- 
tor will  be  glad  to  hear  from  superintendents  and  principals  who 
would  welcome  visits  from  members  of  the  Bureau  staff.  He  is  par- 
ticularly anxious  to  get  in  touch  with  those  schools,  both  elementary 
and  secondary,  which  are  doing  unusual  things  or  which  are  doing 
ordinary  things  unusually  well.  When  a  visit  to  a  school  system  is 
directly  connected  with  some  research  problem  of  the  Bureau  of  Ed- 
ucational Research  the  school  will  not  be  asked  to  defray  any  of  the 
expenses  of  such  a  visitation. 

Miss  Ruth  Streitz,  an  Associate  in  the  Bureau  of  Educational 
Research,  has  had  experience  in  dealing  with  exceptional  children. 
She  will  answer  any  letters  and,  when  her  other  duties  permit,  will 
visit  schools  where  an  attempt  is  being  made  to  give  special  assist- 
ance to  exceptional  children. 

Distribution  of  publications.  This  year  we  have  materially 
enlarged  our  mailing  list  for  the  distribution  of  both  educational  re- 
search circulars  and  the  research  bulletins.  All  who  receive  this  an- 
nouncement are  included  in  the  list.  As  our  publications  are  miscel- 
laneous in  character  and  as  all  of  them  are  not  of  interest  to  all  per- 
sons, we  have  classified  our  mailing  list  on  the  basis  of  the  probable 
interest  of  the  persons  included.  Each  bulletin  or  circular  will  be 
mailed  to  all  the  groups  who  in  our  judgment  will  be  interested  in  the 
publication.  In  case  one  does  not  receive  a  bulletin  or  circular  which 
he  desires,  a  copy  will  be  mailed  upon  request. 

We  shall  be  glad  to  add  to  our  mailing  list  any  teachers,  elemen- 
tary school  principals,  or  other  persons  who  would  like  to  receive 
some  or  all  of  our  educational  research  circulars.  In  particular,  we 
shall  welcome  the  names  of  the  presidents  or  other  members  of  boards 
of  education  in  Illinois.  A  number  of  extra  copies  of  each  educational 
research  circular  and  bulletin  are  printed  and  these  will  be  furnished 
to  superintendents  and  principals  who  wish  to  secure  additional 
copies  for  distribution  among  their  teachers.  During  the  past  year 
requests  have  frequently  come  from  superintendents  and  principals 
who  wished  to  make  a  circular  the  basis  of  one  or  more  of  their 
teachers'  meetings.  There  will  be  no  charge  to  principals  and  super- 
intendents of  Illinois  for  additional  copies  of  any  of  our  publications, 
or  to  other  residents  for  single  copies. 


CIRCULARS  OF  THE  BUREAU  OF  EDUCATIONAL 
RESEARCH,  COLLEGE  OF  EDUCATION,  UNI- 
VERSITY OF  ILLINOIS,  URBANA,  ILLINOIS 


No.  12.  Monroe,  Walter  S.  Announcements  of  the  Bureau  of  Educa- 
tional Research  for  1922-23. 

No.  13.  Monroe,  Walter  S.   Definitions  of  the  Terminology  of  Edu- 
cational Measurements. 

No.  14.  Streitz,  Ruth.   Gifted  Children  and  Provisions  for  Them  in 
Our  Schools. 

No.  15.  Monroe,  Walter  S.  Educational  Tests  for  Use  in  Elementary 
Schools. 

No.  16.  Odell,  Charles  W.    The  Effect  of  Attendance  Upon  School 
Achievement. 

No.  17.  Mohlman,  Dora  Keen.    The  Elementary   School  Principal- 
ship. 

No.  18.  Monroe,  Walter  S.  Educational  Tests  for  Use  in  High  Schools. 

No.  19.  Streitz,  Ruth.    Provisions  for  Exceptional  Children  in   191 
Illinois  Cities. 

No.  20.  McClusky,  Frederick  Dean.    Place  of  Moving  Pictures  in 
Visual  Education. 

No.  21.  Monroe,  Walter  S.   Announcement  of  the  Bureau  of  Educa- 
tional Research  for  1923-24. 

A  limited  number  of  copies  of  these  educational  circulars  are  available  for  free 
distribution  to  superintendents  and  teachers  in  Illinois.  We  shall  be  glad  to  add  to 
our  mailing  list  for  these  circulars  the  names  of  any  teachers  or  superintendents  who 
care  to  receive  them  regularly.  We  shall  be  glad  also  to  send  additional  copies  of  any 
circular  to  superintendents  or  principals  for  distribution  among  their  teachers.  Ad- 
dress all  communications  to  the  Bureau  of  Educational  Research,  University  of 
Illinois. 


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